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Daniel Andrews rips off country taxi users

Ripon MP, Louise Staley has accused the Andrews Labor Government of ripping off country taxi passengers, who face a hike in taxi fees to fund the legalisation of Uber in Melbourne.

To help pay for his $378 million compensation fund to taxi license holders affected by the legalisation of Uber, Daniel Andrews has revealed plans to enforce a $2 tax on every taxi ride, Uber trip or other ride sharing service across the state.

Ms Staley said it was unfair that Western Victorian taxi customers are being hit with this fee because Uber does not run services outside of Melbourne and Geelong.

“Uber is not yet operating anywhere near here, yet this city centric Government continues to slug country Victoria to help pay for services in Melbourne”. Ms Staley said.

“Why should local taxi passengers be slugged with this extra tax so people in Melbourne can catch an Uber? Daniel Andrews has again failed the fairness test.”

“This tax means Victorians will pay more for Uber than any other state and country Victorians will pay too despite not having access to Uber.”

“This latest tax by Daniel Andrews will make life hard for a lot of country taxi passengers who will no longer be able to afford the taxi service they rely on daily.”

Shadow Transport Minister David Hodgett, said Daniel Andrews has to stop pinching from the purses of country Victorians.

“Whilst Uber provides greater transport services, it is not yet up and running in Western Victoria, therefore the State Government should not be slugging local taxi passengers to pay for a service they don’t have access to.”